Changing Beliefs
There is no right and wrong religion for you to personally follow… whether it be Buddhims, Islam, Taoism, Shintoism, Jainism, Sikkh, Christianity, Hinduism etc. They all fundamentally teach you the same thing: to be kind to others… not to cause harm to others and to do good deeds. To live with your fellow beings filled with honesty, kindness and not to harm in any way.
In Buddhism, we encourage practitioners to question. Not to doubt, but to find their own understanding through logical thinking. It is through realization of the teachings that those studying Buddhism can advance in their spiritual practice.
In the monasteries, we have debate courtyards where the monks would go after class to debate on what they have learnt. The monks would question each other on a topic and it may go on for hours until a logical answer has been found. If the monk cannot come to a formulated answer, it either means that he didn’t study well enough… or that there simply isn’t a logical conclusion. Questioning is the basis of deeper understanding in any subject divine or secular.
When we question things this way, we will base our acceptance of the teachings, not on blind faith, but on logic and understanding.
It’s like when you want to buy a car. You have a car in mind and you know that you’ll be driving it for a while… so you test drive it, you ask questions of someone who knows a little more about it, you ask your friends what they think etc… Only when you’re convinced will you go all the way, purchase and use it. Similarly, acceptance for most must come from examinations? For something that is more precious than a car, would you just accept it without question?
In the video below, a man named Yusha Evans (formerly Joshua Evans) talks about his spiritual path. Born into a strict Methodist family, he gradually found himself to be a practicing Muslim. I found his views interesting. I do not endorse what Yusha believes nor am I against it, but I just found his expressions very interesting to share. Knowledge and understanding of other people and their belief systems are critical to harmony, acceptance and peace. I like to have harmony, acceptance and peace with everyone in existence. I wish everyone well no matter what religion you are. I accept you and your beautiful religion.
Like I said, there is no right and wrong with the religion that you have decided to practice. It’s individual. It’s between you and your divinity. Everyone will have their own different path… but take a look at how Yusha Evan shares.
Tsem Rinpoche
Or view the video on the server at: http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/Christianity_to_Islam.flv
You can be born within the religion of your parents but as you grow up, you can feel that it is not representing who you are, and you feel attracted by other religion, or your life experiences can be in harmony with concepts from other religions. Nothing wrong in changing religion. It is good to take the best percepts from any religion and apply it in your life.
Like our Rinpoche said, there is no right or wrong with the religion that you personally follow. It’s between you, as the individual and your divinity. The teachings are all fundamentally the same – i.e.”do good unto others, live with your fellow beings, filled with honesty, kindness, harmony and peace!” Dana Elena is also right in saying even the religion of your parents that you’ve lived with during your early years, can now be changed to the one of your choice to be treasured! It is essential that everyone will have his own different path through logical thinking and final realization. It is through such realization and understanding that help us to make our own choice of our religious path to follow to our final end!
Most of us are borned into a family with a certain existing religious belief from our parents. Maybe our parents are not strong spiritually, or it is not interesting to you when they talk about spiritual belief, or they just don’t talk about it, no matter the reasons, we owe it to ourselves to research and (re)discover it.
We don’t lose our character and become somebody else overnight if we immerse ourselves in learning about our religious belief. We should not be afraid. Instead we increase our understanding and capacity to improve ourselves spiritually, in compassion, love, and patience. As in any learning, spirituality needs effort and time.
I think in this new generation, juz needing to follow a religion based on your parents and forefathers is something will be ‘lost in translation’. Spiritual is so personal experience. However, changing ones religion and being ‘different’ from your parents belief is also a challenge but with time and respect for one another, it is possible to live under one roof harmoniously. I have my mother to thank for her open-mindedness and love.